NW Racing stuff

Thursday, June 26, 2014

For Immediate Release: Gary Lewis Racing LLC Media Relations Lewis facing unique challenges at Evergreen’s Summer Showdown SNOHOMISH, Wash. (June 25, 2014)-Four-time late model touring champion Gary Lewis brings his stellar resume into the 3rd Annual Summer Showdown presented by Coors Light with one item not checked off; a victory in the prestigious race.
Offering a $20,000 payday to the race winner, Lewis aims to add to his nearly $310,000 career earnings this weekend should everything come together. For that to happen the Snohomish native will have to battle challenges that few in the pits will face-his son’s wedding and nearly 60 pre-registered drivers out to accomplish the same goal of winning the race.
Lewis will juggle practicing his Mike Leary’s Shock Shop Chevrolet, qualifying then getting through the positioning races with his son Zach’s nuptials scheduled in between all of Friday’s activities. The wedding is set for just before the Showdown’s qualifying heats get underway so Lewis will have to race back to the track, jump in his car then head out to compete for a spot in the 36-car field.
“We knew this weekend was going to be a little crazy with all the talent coming to Monroe for the race and the chance to win the big money,” Lewis said. “What we have to deal with in going between the track and where Zach is getting married then back to the track to race is something we’re ready to do. His wedding is a once in a lifetime thing. We keep telling ourselves everything will work out, but you’ll never really know until it all starts to come together on Friday.”
With the unusual circumstances Lewis plans to get the most out of his efforts in time trials, he added.
“The key for our SuperGraphics team is to qualify well. If we’re in the front-half of the field or better that’s a great spot to start for the qualifying heats. Having a good starting position in the heats will give me some more time to see what the car will do during the longer runs while looking to finish strong enough for a spot in the front of the field (for Saturday’s main event).”
Handling the sweeping corners will be the focus for the 200-lap Summer Showdown, according to the four-time champion.
“You carry so much speed through the turns at Evergreen that I tap those AP Brakes just a bit to stick in the groove. When it’s sliding up the track or wants to come around you’re scrubbing speed off which costs positions. Our team has a great suspension package from Mike (Leary) on this Lefthander chassis. It has been great at giving me speed to exit the corner with momentum and set-up for the next turn. I feel very confident in what we’re bringing to the Showdown.”
Having faced some tough days in his two previous attempts to win the Summer Showdown, Lewis is ready for a weekend full of excitement, he said.
“We’ve had some tough racing luck in this race. Last year the car was great but we fell out due to a mechanical gremlin. The year before we lost the car in an incident exiting the corner that ended our night. This year the racing luck is throwing a curveball with Zach’s wedding wrapped into everything so we’ll take that as a good luck sign and make every effort to be there at the end of the night. If we can, the win is something we’ll be gunning for that’s for sure with our AR Bodies Chevy SS.” Keep up with the team’s progress throughout the Summer Showdown by bookmarking and following Gary Lewis Racing, LLC Facebook page. Near Live will also be available on RacingWest.com throughout the weekend.

Portland, June 5, 2014 - The Rose City and its residents are internationally recognized for their adventurous but giving spirit. This week one of Oregon's most successful racecar drivers, Cindi Lux, and the Northwest's hottest coffee franchise, Black Rock Coffee Bar, have personified that in announcing a charitable partnership with Portland-based Children's Cancer Association (CCA) at one of Portland's greatest traditions, the Rose Cup Races. The trio will use the June 13-16 event held at Portland International Raceway (PIR) to raise awareness and funds to help CCA prescribe JoyRx to seriously ill kids, teens and their families.

Cindi Lux and Black Rock Coffee Bar will use the June 16 Rose Cup to help promote ticket sales to raffle off this 2014 MINI Cooper for the Children's Cancer Association. Image by Jeff Boerio.

Chief among the charitable efforts for the combined endeavor will be the onsite addition of the 2014 MINI Cooper that CCA will be raffling off. Rose Cup Festival visitors can purchase tickets from a limited pool of only 3,500 tickets for $40.00 per ticket at PIR throughout the weekend. The CCA MINI Cooper will be on display in the Lux Performance paddock where the No. 5 CCA Fueled by Black Rock Coffee SRT Viper Competition Coupe is being prepared for Sunday's feature Rose Cup race. The yearlong campaign by CCA to raise funds with the raffle will culminate in a final drawing on Friday, October 3. The selection of the winner will take place live on AM 860 KPAM.

The Rose Cup Races, and Sunday's 45-minute feature "Rose Cup Race" that Lux will participate in, has become an institution in the Northwest. The Father's Day tradition is the region's largest gathering of SCCA and club racers. The "feature" is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. (Pacific Time), June 16.

Black Rock Coffee Bar (www.BlackRockCoffeeBar.com) and Lux Performance are enjoying the fourth year of their relationship in this event. The Portland-based franchiser has increased its association with the Aloha-headquartered Lux Performance Group and activation of this motorsports marketing platform each consecutive year. The combination has placed its full focus in 2014 on supporting the CCA raffle.

Lux has 12 road racing championships and 75 victories throughout her career. She holds the distinction of being honored with an Oregon Motorsports Museum Association "Lifetime Achievement Award" and holds multiple "Driver of the Year" awards in the Northwest.

Lux Performance Group, the race and road car prep shop owned by Cindi and husband Fred Lux, have also entered a second car for longtime team driver Steve Streimer. The Sherwood, Ore.-resident will race a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car during the weekend.

Quotes

Cindi Lux: "Sometimes we really need to stop and appreciate what we have in life. When I see the challenges these kids and families have to go though battling cancer I want to jump in and help. When I heard about this Children's Cancer Association raffle for the MINI, I knew I had to use our racing program to try and help. Motorsports has been my whole life and I am so happy that I can use this venue to help kids who have challenges every day a whole lot more difficult than I face. It's an opportunity for all of us to give back. When Black Rock Coffee Bar heard about this, they couldn't wait to return to partner with us in this effort. That makes me especially proud to be representing them in the Rose Cup. I hope my fellow racers also step-up to the plate and buy a ticket or two. I want to make the Rose Cup the single largest event for raffle ticket sales for CCA."

Regina Ellis, Founder and CEO,Children's Cancer Association: "CCA is excited to be selected a benefit partner by the Lux Performance Group/Black Rock Coffee Bar race team for the 2014 Rose Cup Race Weekend! The team is rallying behind our 2014 MINI Cooper raffle and hoping to sell 100 tickets over the three-day weekend to support our programs that deliver joy to thousands of seriously ill kids, teens and their families each year. We appreciate their generous hearts!"

Daniel Brand, Head of Operations, Black Rock Coffee Bar:

"Working with Cindi Lux and the Lux Performance Group is always unique. We both have been given great opportunity in various aspects of the community around us, and each of us desires to give back. To be a small piece to the bigger puzzle of making our world a better place is critical to our approach at Black Rock Coffee Bar and I know it is the same for Cindi and Fred Lux! As we approach Rose Cup 2014 we are excited to partner with the Children's Cancer Association to engage in the lives of children, teens and families. CCA serves to make an impact for a great cause and we are privileged to be a part of this effort!"

We prescribe joy. For children diagnosed with serious illness and their families, every moment is precious. At CCA, our goal is to transform as many of those moments as possible - with joy. Why joy? Because in the fight against devastating illness, joy is often forgotten. Because joy connects us with the power of hope, comfort, and happiness and helps families and children feel uplifted when their lives have been turned upside down. Because joy is something every child deserves.

About Black Rock Coffee Bar - Black Rock Coffee Bar roasts its premium blend of coffee locally ensuring the freshest espresso possible. Endeavoring to find the perfect balance of flavors, Black Rock pushes the boundaries of what is possible with the daily cup of 'Joe', to stir things up a bit and to throw a little edge on the coffee biz.Black Rock brewed its first coffee at its first store in Beaverton in early 2008. Today, they span from Seattle to San Diego with nine Black Rock stores in the Portland-area and continued substantial growth planned in the coming months.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Tacoma, Washington –

4/21/14 – “Terrible” Tim McDougald is all set to kick off 2014 racing season at Evergreen Speedway!

After a 2013 racing season that saw the Tacoma, Washington based driver running a very abbreviated schedule, the driver of the #68 Toyota Camry is poised to kick off the 2014 racing season in a much different fashion. After an 18 month long build, the new car the team has been working to complete is all but finished and ready for its debut at Evergreen Speedway this coming Saturday, April 26th in what is now the Super Late Model season opener after rain halted the first scheduled race date for the premier class. “I’m ready to get this season started,” said a very excited McDougald. “I just wish the car was already finished. We’ve worked for a long time to get this new car done. We’ve still got a few odds and ends to button up. But it’s really close.”

McDougald will not only be debuting a new ride, but a new paint scheme as well. The familiar colors will still be visible, but in a much different configuration. “I can’t tell you how much I love the new paint,” stated McDougald. “From certain angles it still looks the exact same. I’ve had some fun with that, posting ‘sneak peeks’ of the angles that still look the same. But I think when the fans see this they will get excited. It’s still the 68 car, but it’s totally different.”

To keep with the theme of “different”, “Terrible” Tim McDougald will also be debuting several new sponsors this season. “We had some big changes with the sponsors,” said McDougald. “We had several businesses that had been with us a long time go a different direction. We really can’t thank them enough for everything they did. KMB design groups, Hargis Engineers, Print-NW. Those guys were all with us a very long time. It’s sad to see them go, but times change, marketing strategies change. We still ask you to support them. They did such a great job over the years so please continue to support those businesses. We’re equally excited to welcome a few new faces to the team. Mo-Dane Trucking, Clevenger Associates and Rev-Equip have all come on board as new sponsors this year. We still have Ringers Gloves on board too. So we thank all of them for their support and ask you guys to support them as well. Without them we can’t do any of this, so seriously, give them your support.”

Saturday, April 26th marks the delayed season opener for the Super Late Models at Evergreen Speedway. Be sure to get your tickets online at www.evergreenspeedway.com or purchase them at the ticket booth on race day. Either way, don’t miss the season opener, and the debut of the all new #68 HayWire Motorsports / Mo-Dane Trucking / Clevenger Associates / Rev-Equip / Ringers Gloves Toyota Camry.